Thursday, August 16, 2018

I have not kept up my drawing everyday this summer like I had planned. It seems that the older I get, the harder it is to fit everything I need to do into a 16 - 18 hour day. Regardless of other obligations, there are really no excuses. I just didn't want it bad enough, because somehow, we make time for the things that really matter, the things that we really want to do.

Although still sketching and drawing, it is not with the same intensity or commitment that was given to "drawing everyday" for seven summers in a row. Of course, to clarify, I was not teaching and giving demos regularly, involved in the local art center and town art walk, didn't have my own art gallery or have Instagram or an online course, wasn't contributing to online communities with videos, or obligated to stay on top of several websites and facebook accounts. Phew! OK, enough of that! I'm not feeling guilty anymore ....

BUT I do want to say that my skills are NOT up to par like they were when I was sketching more. If you can, it is well worth your time and effort to draw something everyday. Here's a couple of drawings from yesterday that aren't horrible, but they took a lot more time than expected.

Don't let my example sway your dedication to study drawing! Everybody
feels awkward and fumbles around with it in the beginning. Even if you
can draw, but have been delinquent in doing it for a while, it can make
you feel downright inadequate and uncomfortable. But that's what
growth is all about! Accept the challenge and enjoy the process.
If you work through it, and dedicate some time everyday (as little as 15
- 30 minutes), I
assure you, that drawing will become easier and more enjoyable the more
you do it. (Scrolling through my blog archives heremay help get you inspired.)

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Small figurines that you love, make great models for quick gesture drawings.

If you go through the archives here, you'll see many versions of these little guys.

You'll never get tired of drawing your favorite things,

because when you sketch and paint what you love, it shows!

If you are strapped for time, just do one set of 2 minute gestures everyday.

You'll be surprised how much even that little bit will help!

This shows you how I set up my little model for this sketching Session.

Some Tips on Drawing two minute gestures from life.:

• When drawing small objects, it
helps to get the item closer to eye level, so I set them up on a box or
a large coffee can.

• It also helps to isolate the subject with a solid colored background.

• Closing one eye often helps if you are having difficulty.

• When drawing, try to keep your body and head in the same position or your view will change.

• Prop your drawing pad up at an angle. Use a Beanie Baby, or something similar.

• Squint to see large shapes as you start to draw quickly.

• Hold your pencil **In position One like a wand (**Like you were conducting an orchestra) It's the complete opposite position from **position Two - the position we use to write our name.

Position One For Sketching

Position Two For Details

• Block in large shapes **In position One. Use the side of the pencil. Look at negative space. Make comparisons. Work fast.

• Then, if you still have time, turn the pencil to *position Two and add a few details.

• You can see a short video on sketching gestures and how to hold your pencil here.

Follow this link for more tips on how to go
about doing these quick gestures. http://www.sketchingeveryday.com/…/in-starting-gate-and-the… The brain processes 3D objects
differently than when viewing flat, 2D reference.
Drawing from photos is good practice too, but there are some real
benefits to to starting off sketching studies with drawing from life!

I feel that tracing before you actually learn how to draw
is cheating yourself out of the gift of refined artistic sight and is a
detriment to your continued development as an artist. A huge part of
learning to draw, is learning to really SEE. Drawing and advanced
observational skills can only be developed through using them! Learning
to draw,
especially from life, teaches you to translate what your eyes see, into a
language of two
dimensional lines, values and shapes. This is why life drawing is so
important; and why it has always been at the forefront in all classical
art education!

It is often obvious, to those with the acquired
skills, when something has been traced from a photo without a solid
knowledge of 3D form. This 'insight' and ability is only acquired
through educated study and practice. In
my opinion, tracing, especially when done from someone else's photo,
does very little to teach drawing skills or contribute to one's long
term
development as an artist.

The photograph, that someone else took, and the perspective that went
into creating it, belongs to someone else; even if it was bought or is
in the public domain. When tracing, no matter how much you change the
colors, or what techniques you employ, it is still not truly your own
art. You are not adding your own perspective into it and you are inevitably cheating yourself out of your own growth and
unique vision.

I do think it is OK to trace to save
time or to refine your drawing, once you are already adept in drawing skills; but it is no
way to learn the essential Right Brain Shift and really start SEEING.

Everybody
feels awkward and fumbles around with it in the beginning. Even if you
can draw, but have been delinquent in doing it for a while, it can make
you feel downright inadequate and uncomfortable. But that's what
growth is all about! Accept the challenge and enjoy the process.
If you work through it, and dedicate some time everyday (as little as 15
- 30 minutes), I
assure you, that drawing will become easier and more enjoyable the more
you do it.

I used the same grid on my photo and the drawing to help me see the shapes more easily.

I
will be drawing again everyday from June - August. Why don't you give
it a try? I'm sure you will agree that refining your drawing skills will
open up your eyes like nothing else and really make you SEE like never
before! Join our facebook group here.

"When drawing lies fallow, the skill diminishes.""Draw, as much and as often as you can."~ Gene Black

"As you make drawing a daily habit,your sight will be enhanced tremendously;your hand will become more coordinatedand your marks will be morebeautiful, spontaneous and sure."

~ Sandy Sandy

And Please Don't Forget. Time is running out. Don't miss this fun adventure.

Reference For Drawing

I often post the reference for my drawings. This is done intentionally so that anyone who wants to use my photos to draw from can! The only thing I ask is that you include a link where the reference was from and the hashtag #DrawingEveryday and #SketchingEveryday when posted online. Thanks and happy creating!

Who is Sandy Sandy?

Hi! I'm a singular artist with a double name. Loving nature and all animals, I strive to portray the essence and spirit of my subjects in my art - aka, my online identity, Sandy Sandy Spiritartist. I hope you'll stay a while and leave me some comments so we can get to know each other.

Thanks Blog Friends!

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